CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

﻿The thought of writing about my childhood experiences during the unspeakable horror of the Cambodian genocide had crossed my mind numerous times over the years but for one reason or another it never went beyond just the thought of it. The urge to circle back to my past has only increased as I've gotten older. During a career transition period in early 2015, I had the opportunity and time to look back and reflect on my life, family, and accomplishments over the years. At the same time, I was hesitant as it would be difficult to remember the details of what happened so long ago, well 40 years ago to be exact. Yet, as I started to piece together my thoughts on paper, the details slowly emerged. It was incredible and my mother could not believe how much I remembered as we worked together for several months to refine the timeline of events. By reliving the ordeal, it gave me a new perspective on life. I'm extremely grateful and humbled to have survived the Cambodian genocide that cost so many others their lives and to have an abundance of opportunities to succeed through sheer hard work to achieve the American dream. I want to preserve and share my story to encourage and inspire others, especially my family and friends.